Share
News

Top US General Warns Afghanistan at Risk of Civil War as American Troops Pull Out

Share

The top U.S. general in Afghanistan on Tuesday gave a sobering assessment of the country’s deteriorating security situation as America winds down its so-called “forever war.”

Gen. Austin S. Miller said the rapid loss of districts around the country to the Taliban — several with significant strategic value — is worrisome.

He also warned that the militias deployed to help the beleaguered national security forces could lead the country into civil war.

Miller told a small group of reporters in Kabul that for now he has the weapons and capability to aid Afghanistan forces.

“What I don’t want to do is speculate what that [support] looks like in the future,” he said.

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

Washington signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020.

It included the promise of a U.S. withdrawal and commitments by the Taliban to ensure Afghanistan does not harbor militants who could attack the U.S. The details of those commitments have never been made public.

The Taliban has accused Washington of breaking the agreement, which called for all troops to be out of Afghanistan by May 1, the date the final withdrawal began. It’s not clear whether the insurgent group has kept its end of the deal.

American officials have said the pullout of U.S. troops will most likely be completed by July 4.

Do you think the US should withdraw from Afghanistan?

But Miller refused to give any date or timeframe, referring only to the Sept. 11 deadline given by President Joe Biden in April when he announced the withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 to 3,500 American troops.

Meanwhile, Taliban fighters have been overrunning districts in rapid succession, many of them in the north of the country.

Miller said the escalating violence puts the country at risk of falling into a civil war.

“As we start talking about how does this all end, the way it must end for the Afghan people is something that revolves around a political solution,” he said.

“I’ve also said that if you don’t reduce the violence, that political solution becomes more and more difficult.”

Related:
Gold Star Father Who Was Arrested at Biden's State of the Union Gets His Charges Dropped

He said his time as the head of the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan was coming to an end, without giving specifics.

Miller wouldn’t speculate on the legacy of America’s longest war.

“The future will tell the rest of the story,” he said. “What we will have to do is make an honest assessment of what went well and what didn’t go so well over the years as we work forward.”

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , , ,
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Conversation